The nation's highest-ranking officer has taken notice of the robust collective efforts of Los Angeles academia, nonprofits, government and private sectors to meet the needs of local veterans and their families. Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited USC March 23 along with Mayor Eric Garcetti to acknowledge the work of the university and the Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans & Military Families for taking the lead in their local community and developing an innovative, data-driven approach to helping veterans. "What you have done here is both unique and inspirational and, more important, it's effective," Dempsey said. Read more

A new study by researchers at the USC School of Social Work and Bar Ilan University in Israel found that California teens from military families are more likely than non-military youth to consider suicide. The study, led by Assistant Professor Tamika Gilreath, is the first to explore the continuum of suicidality, including making a plan, attempting suicide, and attempts that result in medical attention amongst military- and non-military-connected youth. Read more

CIR and the Jonas Center for Nursing and Veterans Healthcare issued a call to action to address homelessness among female veterans, many of whom have children who share that situation, with a multipronged approach centered on preventive efforts. "We will never end homelessness until we focus on prevention, and that must begin while the service member is still on active duty," said Carl Castro, assistant professor and co-author. Read more

The May and Stanley Smith Charitable Trust recently awarded a $500,000 25th Anniversary Grant to the USC School of Social Work for scholarship support for veterans and military families. The trust recognized the far-reaching impact of the school's Master of Social Work, which creates a multiplier effect by advancing military social workers who will help other veterans transition into their communities. Read more

Two recently published policy briefs aim to provide overviews of understudied issues facing our military service members -- sexual functioning and genitourinary (GU) trauma. Approximately 12 percent of recent war injuries involve some kind of GU trauma. Despite the increasing presence of GU trauma over the last decade, its impact on sexual, reproductive, psychological, and relationship functioning remains understudied. Read more.